Aviva Rizel

Aviva Rizel, MA, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Aviva maintains a busy private practice in Cedarhurst, NY where she sees couples, families and individuals. She previously served as the Clinical Director of The Five Towns Marriage Initiative. She is Certified in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), the most effective, research-based model for strengthening couples' connections. Aviva is also active in educating therapists and laypeople about EFT. Mrs. Rizel and her husband, Meir Rizel, LMHC, enjoy co-lecturing across the tri-state area together almost as much as they enjoy raising their three children together in Far Rockaway, NY. To reach Aviva, email AvivaRizel.mft@gmail.com or call 347-292-8482 To find out more about Emotionally Focused Therapy, go to iceeft.com.

Dear Aviva, I am a 9th grader and I have an issue. I had a birthday party where I invited most of my good friends, but I specifically left one girl out because she is not always so nice to me. We don’t always get along and she gets mad at me a lot. I

Dear Aviva, What’s wrong with a working mother valuing her career? Why do I get funny looks when I say “My career means a lot to me?” Why do I feel like I need to hide that or should be ashamed? I don’t neglect my kids; I sacrifice a lot of hours of my job

Dear Aviva, I am a wife and mother who dreads Shabbat. It’s shameful for me to say that, but here’s why: I hate to cook. I hate cooking and preparing and serving. I hate the mess, the clean-up, the putting dishes away, only to do it all over again the next day. And of course

Dear Aviva, Why does my husband turn into a big baby whenever he catches a cold? He totally shuts down and it annoys me to no end. It also bothers me because if I’m sick I don’t get the luxury of resting in bed and being taken care of. It’s not fair! —Woman Who Mans

I am 19 years old and am worried that I have a problem. My best friend just told me that she doesn’t want to be friends anymore because I am too needy and too draining for her. The problem is, I know she’s right. A guy I was dating for six months broke up with me recently

Dear Aviva, This is going to sound so silly, but it is a real problem for me: I have a very difficult time getting up in the mornings, let alone getting up early! With the new school year approaching, and having to get my kids “up and out,” I fear the morning routine. In previous school years

Dear Aviva, My wife and I are dreading that camp is ending. Our 8-year-old daughter did so well in camp with her friends and was so, so happy. She is a drastically different child than when she is in school. Every year she suffers academically, and even though she is so social and popular in

Dear Aviva, My wife and I are opposite in a lot of ways and we are still able to have a good relationship. There is one thing that we are opposite in and it really gets in the way of things for us. I am very adventurous and she is very nervous. I love going

Dear Aviva, I have a wonderful dear friend who is amazing in all ways except for just one. But that one is a biggie, as it is one of the Ten Commandments! My friend is a coveter. She covets the things in my home, my car, my style—you name it! At times I find it

Dear Aviva, I am concerned about my son. He was set up with a very nice girl from LA at the end of his spring college semester. They went on a few dates and really hit it off, but she flew back home for the summer before things got serious. They have been in touch